RACING FORUM

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 0:11 am**

Bookmakers have installed Justify as favourite for the Group 1 Kentucky Derby after the Bob Baffert-trained colt drew barrier 7 for the US$2.1 million Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The son of Scat Daddy, who is one of four 3YOs in the race by the ill-fated Coolmore sire, is currently 3-1 for the blue riband event ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mendelssohn at 5-1, Magnum Moon at 6-1, with Bolt d'Oro and Audible the only other runners under double figure odds at 8-1. Justify, who is coming off a 3 length win over Bolt d'Oro in the Gr1 Santa Anita Derby, must overcome history and the so-called "Apollo Curse" if he is to win the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby. Justify was unraced as a 2YO and the last horse to win the Derby, having not raced as a juvenile, was Apollo way back in 1882. Baffert said he was happy with the draw. "I'm happy. Everybody should be happy with their posts. I wanted to be in the middle or outside. We didn't want the one-hole, that's for sure," he told Blood Horse. The Kentucky Derby field is:
1.Firenze Fire 50-1
2.Free Drop Billy 30-1
3.Promises Fulfilled 30-1
4.Flameaway 30-1
5.Audible 8-1
6.Good Magic 12-1
7.Justify 3-1
8.Lone Sailor 50-1
9.Hofburg 20-1
10.My Boy Jack 30-1
11.Bolt d'Oro 8-1
12.Enticed 30-1
13.Bravazo 50-1
14.Mendelssohn 5-1
15.Instilled Regard 50-1
16.Magnum Moon 6-1
17.Solomini 30-1
18.Vino Rosso 12-1
19.Noble Indy 30-1
20.Combatant 50-1
21.Blended Citizen 50-1